Patents Examined by Andrew Wang
  • Lentiviral vectors
    Patent number: 6498033
    Abstract: The present invention provides a conditionally replicating viral vector, methods of making, modifying, propagating and selectively packaging, and using such a vector, isolated molecules of specified nucleotide and amino acid sequences relevant to such vectors, a pharmaceutical composition and a host cell comprising such a vector, the use of such a host cell to screen drugs. The methods include the prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of viral infection, in particular HIV infection, and, thus, are also directed to viral vaccines and the treatment of cancer, in particular cancer of viral etiology. Other methods include the use of such conditionally replicating viral vectors in gene therapy and other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
    Inventors: Boro Dropulic, Paula Pitha-Rowe
  • Method for transformation of animal cells
    Patent number: 6498011
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for introducing nucleic acids into cells for e.g. producing transiently transfected or stably transformed animal cells by using a specifically designed nucleic acid/protein complex comprising in operable linkage to an expressible DNA or to an oligonucleotide a VirD2 protein, preferably together with a VirE2 protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Barbara Hohn, Luca Rossi, Alicja Ziemienowicz, Biserka Relic
  • Pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing influenza, and novel capped oligonucleotide
    Patent number: 6495675
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition comprising a capped oligonucleotide capable of binding to a PB2 protein of an influenza virus RNA polymerase, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or dilute, said capped oligonucleotide having a structure of the formula (I): m7GpppXpY  (I) wherein ppp is a triphosphate bridge, p is a monophosphate bridge, m7G is 7-methylguanosine group binding at 5′ end thereof to said ppp, X is a 2′-O-methyl guanosine group or guanosine group, said 2′-O-methyl guanosine group or guanosine group binds at a 5′ end thereof to said ppp, and at a 3′ end thereof to said p, and Y is an oligoribonucleotide moiety binding at 5′ end thereof to said p, and having 5 to 11 bases is disclosed. The pharmaceutical composition can inhibit a protein expression of an influenza virus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Chiba Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takaku, Kin-ichiro Miura, Toshifumi Hatta, Kazuyuki Takai, Masahide Ishikawa
  • Antisense modulation of TERT expression
    Patent number: 6492171
    Abstract: Antisense compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of TERT. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding TERT. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of TERT expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of TERT are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: ISIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Monia, William A. Gaarde, Susan M. Freier, Edward Wancewicz
  • Method and reagent for treatment of lung cancer and other malignancies caused by the deregulation of L-MYC gene expression
    Patent number: 6492512
    Abstract: An enzymatic RNA molecule which cleaves mRNA associated with development or maintenance of lung cancer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Thompson, Kenneth G. Draper
  • Antisense modulation of caspase 9 expression
    Patent number: 6492170
    Abstract: Antisense compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of caspase 9. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding caspase 9. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of caspase 9 expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of caspase 9 are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: ISIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew T. Watt
  • Antisense inhibition of cyclin D2 expression
    Patent number: 6492173
    Abstract: Antisense compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of Cyclin D2. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding Cyclin D2. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of Cyclin D2 expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of Cyclin D2 are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: ISIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventor: Lex M. Cowsert
  • Branched oligonucleotides as pathogen-inhibitory agents
    Patent number: 6489464
    Abstract: Novel antisense oligonucleotides are disclosed. The present oligonucleotides have increased resistance to nuclease attack and manifest increased efficacy in combating pathogenic infections. The present oligonucleotides comprise two or more identical or different sequences, each complementary to a nucleic acid sequence of a pathogen that is essential to the pathogen's metabolism and/or reproduction. The sequences may be complementary to the same or different target nucleic acid sequence within a single pathogen, to target sequences on different strains of the same pathogen, or to target sequences on different pathogens. In the preferred embodiment, the sequences are coupled via a 3′-3′ linkage, which greatly reduces 3′ nucleolytic degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Hybridon, Inc.
    Inventors: Sudhir Agrawal, Susan Meschwitz
  • Methods of treating colitis using STAT-4 anti-sense oligonucleotides
    Patent number: 6479465
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing the inflammatory response of an inflammatory bowel disease in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an amount of a STAT-4 antisense oligonucleotide effective in treating or preventing the inflammatory response of the inflammatory bowel disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Warren Strober, Ivan Fuss, Markus Neurath, Atsushi Kitani
  • Methods and compositions for the treatment of injury to the central nervous system
    Patent number: 6475998
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and pharmaceutical compositions thereof for treating injury to the central nervous system (CNS). The method includes administering to the CNS of a patient suffering from such an injury a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) production immediately following the injury. The methods use as the inhibitor a synthetic nuclease resistant antisense oligonucleotide or ribozyme that is directed against an accessible domain of the AChE mRNA brain variant. The treatment downregulates AChE production and thereby activity. The injury to the CNS may be a head injury (closed or open), brain injury, or spinal cord trauma or other trauma to the CNS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
    Inventors: Hermona Soreq, Shlomo Seidman, Esther Shohami
  • Nucleic acids, kits, and methods for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of glaucoma and related disorders
    Patent number: 6475724
    Abstract: In a preferred aspect of the invention, the upstream sequences of the TIGR protein encoding sequence can be used to diagnose a sensivity to steroids and a risk for glaucoma or ocular hypertensive disorders. Methods, kits, and nucleic acids containing polymorphisms, base substitutions, or base additions located within the upstream region and within protein-encoding regions of the TIGR gene are also provided. The upstream sequences disclosed, including the TIGR promoter regions and those regions possessing functional characteristics associated with or possessed by the TIGR gene 5′regulatory region, can also be used to generate cells, vectors, transgenic animals, and nucleic acid constructs useful in a variety of diagnostic and prognostic methods and kits as well as therapeutic compounds, compositions, and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Thai D. Nguyen, Jon R. Polansky, Pu Chen, Hua Chen
  • Method for determining drug-serum protein binding
    Patent number: 6468757
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of screening for drug binding to serum proteins by: preparing at least two solutions each including a concentration of a serum protein and a concentration of a candidate drug, wherein the concentration of the candidate drug is different for each of the at least two solutions; exposing each of the at least two solutions to a light source; measuring fluorescent emission by the serum protein or a serum protein-candidate drug complex for each of the at least two solutions upon said exposing; and determining whether a change in fluorescence emission is measured for an increased concentration of the candidate drug, wherein the change in fluorescence emission indicates binding of the candidate drug to the serum protein. A kit useful for performing a fluorimetric screening of drug binding to serum proteins is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: The Research Foundation of State University of New York
    Inventors: Murali Ramanathan, Marilyn E. Morris
  • Essential fungal genes and their use
    Patent number: 6465198
    Abstract: Disclosed are essential Aspergillus polypeptides and genes (AN97, AN17, AN80, and AN85), as well as homologs thereof, which can be used to identify antifungal agents for treating fungal infections such as aspergillosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Yigal Koltin, Victoria Gavrias
  • Essential fungal genes and their use
    Patent number: 6461826
    Abstract: Disclosed are essential Aspergillus polypeptides and genes (AN97, AN17, AN80, and AN85), as well as homologs thereof, which can be used to identify antifungal agents for treating fungal infections such as aspergillosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Yigal Koltin, Victoria Gavrias
  • Antisense-oligonucleotides for transforming growth factor-&bgr; (TGF-&bgr;)
    Patent number: 6455689
    Abstract: Antisense-oligonucleotides or effective derivatives thereof hybridizing with an area of a gene coding for transforming growth factor-&bgr; (TGF-&bgr;) comprising the following nucleic acid sequences identified in the sequence listing under SEQ ID NO. 1-56 and 137 or comprising the following nucleic acid sequences identified in the sequence listing under SEQ ID NO. 57 to 136 each of the nucleic acids having a DNA- or RNA-type structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Biognostik Gesellschaft für Biomolekulare Diagnostik mbH
    Inventors: Georg-Ferdinand Schlingensiepen, Wolfgang Brysch, Karl-Hermann Schlingensiepen, Reimar Schlingensiepen, Ulrich Bogdahn
  • Hypoxia-regulated genes
    Patent number: 6455674
    Abstract: Isolated hypoxia-regulated polypeptides have sequences as set forth in SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:7 and SEQ ID NO:11. Antibodies directed against such polypeptides may be prepared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Quark Biotech, Inc.
    Inventors: Paz Einat, Rami Skaliter
  • Antisense modulation of CHK2 expression
    Patent number: 6451538
    Abstract: Antisense compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of CHK2. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding CHK2. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of CHK2 expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of CHK2 are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: ISIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventor: Lex M. Cowsert
  • DNA encoding human alpha 1 adrenergic receptors and uses thereof
    Patent number: 6448011
    Abstract: This invention provides an isolated nucleic acid, vectors, transformed mammalian cells and non-human transgenic animals that encode and express normal or mutant alpha 1a, alpha 1b and alpha 1c adrenergic receptor genes. This invention also provides a protein, and an antibody directed to the protein and pharmaceutical compounds related to alpha 1a, alpha 1b and alpha 1c adrenergic receptors. This invention provides nucleic acid probes, and antisense oligonucleotides complementary to alpha 1a, alpha 1b and alpha 1c adrenergic receptor genes. This invention further provides methods for determining ligand binding, detecting expression, drug screening, and treatments for alleviating abnormalities associated with human alpha 1a, alpha 1b and alpha 1c adrenergic receptors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Synaptic Pharmaceutical Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Bard, Richard L. Weinshank, Carlos C. Forray
  • Method for target site selection and discovery
    Patent number: 6448009
    Abstract: Nucleic acid catalysts, method of screening/selection for nucleic acid catalysts, synthesis of ribozyme libraries and discovery of gene sequences involved in a biological process are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventor: James D. Thompson
  • Methods and composition for inhibition of tRNA activities
    Patent number: 6448059
    Abstract: A method of inhibiting activities of a tRNA of a selected pathogen is provided wherein a cell infected with a selected pathogen is contacted with an effective amount of an oligonucleotide targeted to a region of the cloverleaf structure of a tRNA of the selected pathogen. Compositions for inhibiting activities of a tRNA of a selected pathogen which contain an oligonucleotide targeted to a region of cloverleaf structure of a tRNA of the selected pathogen are also provided. In addition, methods of killing the pathogen with these compositions are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Thomas Jefferson University
    Inventor: Ya-Ming Hou